Trying to determine the number of instances of elder abuse amongst nursing homes is like trying to count the number of times Charlie Sheen has disgraced himself in the last week; there are too many instances in public, and too many that are not reported. California in particular has always had a shockingly high amount of disgraceful nursing homes, but with the inclusion of the new star rating system, and the public spotlight illuminating the problem, many felt that we were heading in a new and positive direction. A recent report begs to differ.
Percent of Criminals Employed is Frighteningly High
According to a new government report obtained by CBS News, more than 90 percent of nursing homes hired employees with criminal convictions, leading to theories regarding the increased instances of nursing home abuse. Government investigators ran background checks on all workers who were employed on June 1, 2009 at 260 nursing homes across the country. The results showed 92 percent of the facilities hired at least one employee with a criminal conviction, according to CBS News.
The report, by the Inspector General for Health and Human Services, also says that at nearly half of the nursing homes, "five or more individuals" with criminal backgrounds were hired. Investigators found seven registered sex offenders employed in five different nursing homes. Overall 43 percent of the criminal convictions were for property crimes such as "burglary, shoplifting, and writing bad checks", according to CBS News.
What Can Be Done?
Victims of nursing home abuse are left with permanent physical and emotional scars. Many are too afraid to come forward and find themselves feeling trapped by their abusers. If you or a loved one are victims of abuse, call a BISNAR | CHASE Los Angeles Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your case by attorneys who have represented more than 6,000 clients since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by friendly law firm in a comfortable environment.
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